Sacred Armor Rituals Mark Finale of Jyeshtabhishekam at Sri Govindaraja Swamy Temple
Tirupati's historic temple concluded its three-day annual festival with the ceremonial restoration of the Kavacham to the deities. High-ranking TTD officials and religious leaders observed the final processions and purification rites on Sunday.
Final Rites and the Kavacha Samarpanam
The three-day Jyeshtabhishekam festival reached its conclusion at the Sri Govindaraja Swamy temple this Sunday. The event culminated in the Kavacha Samarpanam, a ritual where the processional deities are re-adorned with their protective golden armours. These sacred coverings had been removed at the start of the festival for purification and special rites.
Sunday's schedule commenced before dawn with the Suprabhatam, leading into a public procession of the armours. The temple grounds hosted a sequence of significant Vedic ceremonies, including:
- Satakalasa Snapanam: A specialized purification rite involving one hundred vessels.
- Mahasanthi Homam: A fire ritual performed to invoke peace and spiritual equilibrium.
- Snapana Tirumanjanam: A celestial bath administered to the processional idols of Lord Sri Govindaraja and his consorts, Sri Devi and Bhu Devi.
Evening Procession and Official Attendance
Following the Kavacha Pratishta, where the armours were fixed back onto the idols, the deities appeared in their full regalia for the evening crowds. The procession moved through the traditional temple streets, showcasing the idols in their restored brilliance. Senior religious figures Sri Pedda Jeeyar Swamy and Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamy led the observers. Administrative oversight for the final day was provided by TTD Deputy Executive Officer K. Santhi, alongside other representatives from the temple management board.
Source: The Hindu — National
